FSML Upgrade of Electrical Distribution System at Archbold Biological Station

该奖项为阿奇博尔德生物站（Archbold Biological Station）改善电力供应和互联网接入提供资金。阿奇博尔德生物站是一家致力于长期生态研究的非营利性研究机构。Archbold拥有并管理着一个3653公顷的全球重要灌木保护区，该保护区位于佛罗里达州中部的威尔士湖山脊，是美国最具特色的自然生态系统之一。该站的研究重点是种群和保护生物学、火灾生态学以及稀有和特有物种的人口变化。在过去的5年里，Archbold被大量用于科学家的研究和教育（16,652个使用日），用于研究生和本科生的研究培训（115名学生），通过访问大学课程（864个使用日）和一个活跃的K-12项目（10,921次K-12访问）。2004年的基本基础设施规划过程确定，升级车站的配电系统对未来扩建设施至关重要。在过去的18个月里，四次主要的飓风，伴随着电力中断，强调了这个奖项的必要性。待改善的配电系统服务于行政办公室、参考资料收集室、地理信息系统实验室、访客办公室、会议室、礼堂、畜舍、消防/其他设备储藏室、维修车间、气象站、水塔、泵房和深井泵，以及七个住宅访客小屋。升级包括管道中的配电电缆，截止箱和新的断路器面板。这些改进有望减少电涌、停电和其他损坏敏感电子设备的功率变化。新的管道将用于将光纤扩展到2个远程校园建筑，然后可以作为互联网服务的无线接入点。Archbold开展教育项目，直接传播研究成果，让学生（K-12及以上）参与科学过程。公众宣传活动包括导游、自然小径和公众研讨会。研究成果还通过一个网站向公众传播，该网站科学内容丰富，但包括许多以公众教育为重点的页面。

This award provides funding for improvements in electrical supply and internet access at the Archbold Biological Station, a not-for-profit research institution dedicated to long-term ecological research. Archbold owns and manages a 3,653-ha globally significant scrub preserve located in the Lake Wales Ridge, central Florida, one of the most distinctive natural ecosystems in the US. Research at the station emphasizes population and conservation biology, fire ecology, and demographic shifts in rare and endemic species. In the last 5 years, Archbold has been used heavily for research and education by scientists (16,652 use days), for research training of graduates and undergraduates (115 students), by visiting college classes (864 use days) and for an active K-12 program (10,921 K-12 visits). A 2004 capital infrastructure planning process identified the upgrade of the Station's electrical distribution system as critical to future expansion of facilities. Four major hurricanes in the last 18 months, with concomitant power outages have emphasized the needs to be addressed with this award. The electrical distribution system to be improved services administration offices, reference collections, GIS lab, visitor offices, conference room, auditorium, animal house, fire/other equipment caches, Maintenance Shop, weather station, Water Tower, Pump House and Deep Well Pump, and seven residential visitor cottages. The upgrade includes distribution cables in conduit, cut-off boxes and new breaker panels. The improvements are expected to reduce power surges, brown outs and other power variation which damages sensitive electronic equipment. The new conduits will be used to extend optical fiber to 2 remote campus buildings that will then be able to serve as wireless access points for internet service. Archbold conducts education programs that disseminate research results directly and involve students (K-12 and beyond) in the process of science. Public outreach includes guided tours, a Nature Trail, and public seminars. Research results are also disseminated to the public via a website, which is rich in science content but includes many pages focused on public education.